St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-07-30


folded paper, which was reached to Majo
Noah, with the remark, will you have a
bill of the play?" The programme read
as follows:
This evening, by permission of Rear Ad-
mral Durham, will be performed on board
his majesty's ship "Bulwark" a celebrated
play in five acts, written by John Okeefe.
ESQUIRE, called "Wjld Oats; or, The Stroll
ing Gentleman" After the play a hOrnpipe
will be danced. The whole to conclude with
Foot's afterpiece of the Mayor of Garrett
Performance to begin at half-past seven
o'clock. Tivat A'z ct Regina!
A boy announced that the play was
ready. The nautical theatre was ar
ranged on the gun-deck, near the officers
ward-room, and fitted with scenery, drop
curtains, side doors, footli&hts and all
the paraphernalia of a well-organized
stage. The band struck up God Save
the King" "Sit down." said the ad-
miral; you have no occasion to stand
when God Save the King is played,
though we are accustomed to do it.
The play proceeded and was admirably
given in all details, the performers being
sailors or other enlisted men Of the ship.
After the play the band struck up a horn
pipe and the naval TerpsichOre, who
was an interesting figure, tastefully
dressed, danced merrily. Don't stare
So" said the admiral; ''it is real woman,
the wife of foretopman.' Major Noah
naively confesses that the sight of & real
woman with an agreeable countenance
was refreshing after a long voyage,
especially since all the female parts in
the play of wild Oats had been awk-
wardly but necessarily sustained by men.
The "Briton" having been ordered to
sea the American prisoners were trans
ferred to the "Rippon," seventy-four,
commanded by Sir Christopher Cole,
who, although an excellent officer, did
not treat his enforced guests so gener-
ously as Sir Thomas Staines. After re-
naming week on board the ''Rippon"
the Americans were re-transferred to the
brig "Goldfish," commanded by Captain
Waller, descendant of Edmund Waller,
the celebrated English poet, contempora-
neous with Milton and the Cromwelian
era Captain Waller treated his prison
ers with marked hospitality, and invited
Major Noah to mess with him.
The "Goldfnch'' received orders to
sail for England, and on the third day
overhauled a brig which, upon capture,
proved to be a Newfoundland vessel
laden with fish, a prize to Baltimore
privateer with a prlZemaster on board.
The priZemaster was a tall, thin, weather.
beaten-looking Yankee" from Nam
tucket. when did you part from the
privateer? | should like to fall in with
her." said Captain Waller you better
not" replied the Yankee przemaster
Shed fog you in no time Why, she
mounts twelve guns, has 100 men and
would board you in moment" Upon
talking with the prizemaster, Major
Noah first learned of the capture of the
chesapeake" in the roads of Boston, on
June /, 1913, by the British frigate
Shannon" commanded by Captain
Brook, and the death of the gallant
Lawrence, who, MORALLY wounded in
the hottest of the struggle, cried; Don't
give up the ship" as he was borne dying
below.
After night had set in and Major Noah
was pacing the deck, the enlivening
sound of a violin was heard. On re-
pairing to the ward-room the Yankee
prizemaster was found, surrounded by
host of officers and midshipmen, tiddling
amusing his auditors with no very scien
Yankee Doodle which he accom-
panied by the familiar doggerel, ''Feyther
and Went up to Camp" with all the
nasal embellishments and cadenzas of
Yankee dialect. Here was man." re-
marks Major Noah who presented an
example of patience and fortitude worthy
of Imitation. He had no other prospect
on His arrival in England than cell in
Dartmoor or Mill prison, but he had the
courage and enterprise to meet danger
and philosophy to sustain misfortune
Major Noah and his confreres were
finally landed at Plymouth and ordered
to report to the agent for prisoners Of
war. The loyal inhabitants had DIST
illuminated the town in honor of the
battle of Vittora and the capture of the
"Chesapeake." The names of Wellington
and Brooke were entwined in one wreath.
One honest, painstaking Plymouth haber-
dasher overwhelmed with British pa
triotkm, had the following distich
painted over his door:
When Britons fight and Frenchmen fall,
O, what delight it gives George Hall.
While at Plymouth the loss of the
American brig Argus was announced,
captured by the British brig pelican"
The Argus had carried our minister,
Mr.. William H. Crawford, safely to
France, made many captures in the
British channel, and hence was an object
of peculiar interest to the enemy. The
pelican" oyermatched the ARGUS"
whose brave commander was killed in
action, but, Notwithstanding the odds,
the battle was sustained with unexcelled
bravery, so much so as to evoke the
respect and admiration of the British
officers, who said little by way of taunt
over the victory.
On the way to London. Major Noah
alighted at Ashburton, depot for cap
tured officers of American privateers, and
here painful but patriotic spectacle was
presented. These prisoners crowded
around with anxious inquiries for news
from America Each had some distinct
question to ask about home, family and
friends, but all were eager to know the
particulars of the capture of the "Chesa-
peake." Describing this interview,
Major Noah says:
It was an interesting sight to observe a
number of fne-looking men, prisoners OF
war on parole, each with countenance
beaming with intelligence, listening with
rapt attention to the details of an event
which they had but imperfectly understood.
They would know the most minute particu-
lars, and each man shook his head with smil-
ing look of appreciation when declaring 81
Yy,at thn 10 tc1~